I just received the loveliest message from a colleague, Micheline, who took the time to read through the whole blog, then write to me with her thoughts and thanks. Here is some of what she said:
“So interesting, inspiring, full of meaningful ideas, feelings and details, a true narrative of day-to-day reality as a freelance writer/translator… gifted, meticulous and prompts one to question oneself – I can only lament the fact that clients rarely realize and appreciate the time, effort and multi-faceted gifts you offer them and devote to their assignments… (can’t help thinking to myself: what a waste – some of the time -…!) [...] Still, I wanted to drop you a line, just let you know that you probably have many solitary readers/colleagues who’re comforted and cheered by your column but somehow don’t have the time or energy to thank you for it.”
When I started the blog it really was to reach out to colleagues and try to form some sort of an online community, but that hasn’t entirely resulted. I was hoping to see more comments, get more feedback, create more two-way dialogue. But still, notes like these, knowing that someone out there somewhere has benefitted in whatever way from what I have written, plus the simple satisfaction I derive from dashing off a few words, taking what is swimming around in my head and making it clear “on paper”, has been enough reward.
I do wonder, though, how an online community is built, nourished and sustained. Sites like Facebook have revolutionized the way we interact, but I wonder if that has more to do with the people who are interested in that type of site than the medium itself. But then that thought is contradicted by this one: the American Translator’s Association Language Technology Division has a website with an RSS Feed and a listserv, but both are rarely used – surprising to me because membership is comprised of techies, after all, who are used to online media.
I have been thinking about an article regarding writing/blogging/online communities for some time now, and Micheline’s message just set me off on a tangent that led me back to wanting to post here and get that article underway. Thank you for that, Micheline!
